If I was picking 8 Russian defensemen, I would include him on the team. Here's who I would choose: Anton Volchenkov, Dmitri Kalinin, Andrei Markov, Danny Markov, Sergei Gonchar, Boris Mironov, Sergei Zubov, Vladimir Malakhov

Dmitri Kalinin, Andrei Markov
Two younger d-men. Kalinin was playing the World Champs, and will get more experience in this tournament. Markov is a good depth guy, and I think he'll go with the team.

Anton Volchenkov - Need some more years among the best
Alexander Khavanov - Eh.. no thanks, too soft.
Vitaly Vishnevski - Could be a alternative, good defensive d-man. Will be even better for the years to come.

Dmitri Kalinin, Andrei Markov
Two younger d-men. Kalinin was playing the World Champs, and will get more experience in this tournament. Markov is a good depth guy, and I think he'll go with the team.

Anton Volchenkov - Need some more years among the best
Alexander Khavanov - Eh.. no thanks, too soft.
Vitaly Vishnevski - Could be a alternative, good defensive d-man. Will be even better for the years to come.

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What's Kasparaitis and Zhitnik's status with Russia? Kasparaitis is from Lithuania. Why no Zubov? This whole deal with the former Soviet republics is confusing.

What's Kasparaitis and Zhitnik's status with Russia? Kasparaitis is from Lithuania. Why no Zubov? This whole deal with the former Soviet republics is confusing.

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They both played for Russia as long as i remember ,they have both russian citizenship..
Zubov and probably even Zhitnik now dont want to play for country..U see when u get all the milions and grab the god for balls u know what matters in life..READ:They are cash *******..
Kasparaitis is washed up ,he was terrible in SLC on big ice,and coming after the injury things can be only worse..i hope he doesnt get to play..

1. The tournament is played on big rinks.
2. Kasparitis is needed to though up the d, if Ulf Samelsson still played he would be alock for Sweden. Such d-men must be used.
3. Kasparitis would be a perfect partner for Gonchar.

With Kasparitis-Gonchar and Markov-Malakhov Russia have a really good top-4. Tverdovsky could be on the third with a defensive minded d-man as Boris Mironov or Alexei Zhitnik.

1. The tournament is played on big rinks.
2. Kasparitis is needed to though up the d, if Ulf Samelsson still played he would be alock for Sweden. Such d-men must be used.
3. Kasparitis would be a perfect partner for Gonchar.

With Kasparitis-Gonchar and Markov-Malakhov Russia have a really good top-4. Tverdovsky could be on the third with a defensive minded d-man as Boris Mironov or Alexei Zhitnik.

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NAh i still belive KAsparaitis is totally washed up...If he was 5 years younger maybe...But he was obviously strungling in SLC,big ice also means bigger small mistakes ... Injuries are slowly getting to him,he just aint the same player anymore ...